A new cat for a cat who has never met another cat?

[SodaStreamy]

We got a 8 year old indoor cat in Sept last year.

She took quite a while to settle and runs and hides when anyone 'new' comes in the house so not really a confident or 'people' cat

I have always had cats but never a solitary cat and we are thinking about getting a friend for her.

Is this a good idea or a stupid one? If I was to go ahead would you recommend a male or a female , younger or same ageish?

[purrpurr]

Doesn't sound like a good idea to me... Do you really think it'll do her good or is it because you're not used to having just the one cat? Sounds like it's the latter, and that's not fair, she's 8, she's not confident, runs and hides from new people, give the poor mog a break. Unless she sits you down and tells you she wants a friend, don't do it.

[SodaStreamy]

Thanks purrpurr

yes I think it's because I think she might be lonely, which I suppose is daft, she is hopefully happy!

[thecatneuterer]

Just because she's not confident with people it doesn't mean that she won't like another cat. There is normally the odd skirmish when another cat is introduced, but if you do it carefully and are patient the chances are they will end up at worst tolerating each other and at best really getting on.

Your local rescue should be able to tell you which of their cats really love other cats, which is a good start. And I would say that you should go for a mature cat - ie anything over about 4 years, so it's not too boisterous, and the sex probably doesn't really matter. And of course if it really doesn't work out any rescue will always take the cat back, and there are so many unwanted cats out there, and rescue centres are so overwhelmed, they would prefer that people tried and failed to take one on than not to try at all.

[cozietoesie]

I'd be pretty careful here. You'll know her better than us but she may just be perfectly happy being with her people. (I know you said that she runs to hide from new people in the house but how is she with you on your own?)

I know that Seniorboy was in this situation and he is gloriously happy being an only cat with the whole household (and me in particular) dancing attendance on him. When The Lodger comes to stay, he is not a happy camper at all because he doesn't like sharing. Admittedly, he's a Siamese - and some of them are notorious for obsessing on their humans - but he was/is never going to accept another cat as anything more than an interloper, however well we try to manage the situation.

So I'll admit to being prejudiced by experience but ..... It could be great and she could end up as a very happy half of a Terrible Twosome. It could end up never working. All I'm saying is - take your time and assess your situation and your cat carefully.

Best of luck whatever you decide.

[SodaStreamy]

Thanks the catneuter and cozietoesie

This is something I've been mulling over since January and still got some thinking to do.

I think what is swaying me is that everything that her previous owners about her preferences and behaviours are now changing

When she arrived we were told she was shy and would run away if people came in the house and stay hidden until they left. This was true to begin with, and she still runs away but instead of hiding under the settee she know hides at the side of settee but meercats and is really nosey to see who is there

They also said she wouldn't set a foot outside, they had a house with a garden and they insisted she would never cross the threshold of either their front or back door.

This was ideal for us as we are in a flat now however after the first visit to the vet she started to paw at our kitchen door and wanted out on the balcony. This is now one of her favourite places, sitting outside sunbathing and watching the world go by.

We were told she didn't play but now spends a good hour chasing laser pens and laces and balls of tinfoil.

I suppose I'm thinking that maybe she just never had the opportunity before and is enjoying things and she might want a friend?

Love her to bits

[Floralnomad]

She probably feels safe on the balcony as although its outside its not really the great outdoors IYSWIM . TBH she sounds happy and I'd leave well alone . My mum has a housecat and I'm pretty sure he doesn't think he is a cat ,he sometimes sees the neighbours cats through the window and just looks aghast . He would definitely not want to share his space !

[purrpurr]

Soda, sorry for being harsh before, I've slapped my own legs in reprimand. It sounds like you love her to bits and she is really flourishing under your care. I think I'm just biased because my rescue mog is now somewhere around 9.5 years old and she loves her humans, mainly me though (but then, she's my baby, and has been for 8 years) and when she has had to live with other cats, she's been a different animal, no trills or purrs, just a silent shadow. I'm sure other cats love having company, I think mine has just been a singleton for so long that it's almost like betraying her if we bring in another cat.

[SodaStreamy]

this is what my dilemma purrpurr I don't want to upset her be bringing in a new cat but I have a gut feeling she might like a companion.

I say this because when we had her at the vets she was sort of interested in the other animals that were there.

I know that her previous owners got her when she was three weeks old and she has never met another cat

Far too young to be away from her mum and siblings but she was a runt and wa going to be destroyed if they hadn't taken her

She doesn't even meow properly......her little noises are so weird ..it's like she doesn't know how to be a cat

[purrpurr]

Oh Soda she sounds totally adorable. Would you be looking at getting a companion around the same age, younger, older?